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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 1 · Chapter 16: How Parīkṣit Received the Age of Kali
1.16.32-331.16.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.16.34

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.16.10inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

यो वै ममातिभरमासुरवंशराज्ञा-

मक्षौहिणीशतमपानुददात्मतन्त्र: ।

त्वां दु:स्थमूनपदमात्मनि पौरुषेण

सम्पादयन् यदुषु रम्यमबिभ्रदङ्गम् ॥ ३४ ॥

yo vai mamātibharam āsura-vaṁśa-rājñām

akṣauhiṇī-śatam apānudad ātma-tantraḥ

tvāṁ duḥstham ūna-padam ātmani pauruṣeṇa

sampādayan yaduṣu ramyam abibhrad aṅgam

Translation

O personality of religion, I was greatly overburdened by the undue military phalanxes arranged by atheistic kings, and I was relieved by the grace of the Personality of Godhead. Similarly you were also in a distressed condition, weakened in your standing strength, and thus He also incarnated by His internal energy in the family of the Yadus to relieve you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Relieves Earth and Restores Religion

  1. 1

    The asuras seek sense gratification even at the cost of others’ happiness. Atheistic rulers increase deadly military strength for their own advancement, burdening the earth.

  2. 2

    As this influence increases, those who follow religious principles suffer, especially the devotees. Both the earth and the personality of religion needed relief.

  3. 3

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared by His internal energy in the family of the Yadus. As the Personality of Godhead, He fulfilled His mission of vanquishing the asuras and reestablishing true religious principles.

Key points from the purport
  • In order to fulfill this ambition, the asuras, especially atheistic kings or state executive heads, try to equip themselves with all kinds of deadly weapons to bring about a war in a peaceful society.
  • They have no ambition other than personal aggrandizement, and thus mother earth feels overburdened by such undue increases of military strength.
  • In such a situation, the Personality of Godhead incarnates to vanquish the unwanted asuras and to reestablish the true principles of religion.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Moral alarm → Resolve. The king's duty is tested in a deteriorating age.

Chapters 16–17 of Canto 1: Parīkṣit confronts Kali. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 16: How Parīkṣit Received the Age of Kali

Parīkṣit rules as a devotee while the personality of religion and mother earth discuss their distress.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥHe who
  2. vaicertainly
  3. mamamine
  4. ati-bharamtoo burdensome
  5. āsura-vaṁśaunbelievers
  6. rājñāmof the kings
  7. akṣauhiṇīone military division
  8. *</a> śatamhundreds of such divisions
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “religion”, “religious”, “principles”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “kings”, “rulers”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “distressed”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does any pursuit of my own enjoyment come at the cost of someone else’s happiness?

Practice

In one decision today, give up a personal convenience if keeping it would needlessly trouble someone else.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Relieves Earth and Restores ReligionThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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